Brett Favre left brain dangling

I must confess that until about a year ago I did not have any idea what the term “sexting” meant. I wrongly assumed it had to do with typing sexual messages in the body of a text. For a number of reasons, I was shocked and sorry to hear a friend share the correct definition.

The Brett Favre scandal reminds us of the true meaning of the 21st-century word. For the uninformed — by the way, you should be proud, not ashamed — here’s an explanation: Sexting, when practiced by men, involves a man texting a picture of his brain to a man or woman, depending on the sender’s orientation. Evidently, he hopes this will titillate the recipient.

Nobody wants to be labeled an old fogey who can’t keep up with the times, but you can’t tell me that’s not a strange, strange thing to do. Revolting, actually. Is nothing sacred anymore? Even cave men would be appalled.

More on the Favre scandal in a minute, but before I forget, this whole ordeal reminds me of an old joke.

Question: Why do all men have nicknames for their brains?

Answer: Because they don’t want a stranger doing all their thinking for them.

Back to Favre, who played for the Minnesota Vikings against his old team, the New York Jets, on Monday Night Football in front of the nation in the midst of his humiliating sext scandal.

Deadspin.com broke the story of former Jets in-house sideline reporter Jenn Sterger alleging that Favre had texted her pictures of the organ that does his thinking for him. Favre neither has confirmed nor denied it. The voluptuous Sterger, a former Florida State cowgirl who has done photo shoots for Maxim and Playboy, said she did not take the bait, in part because Favre is too married and too old.

If he did it — the young woman’s story sounds oh-so credible — what was Favre thinking sending her a photo of his brain? If he was trying to prove he’s intelligent, he failed miserably. Better to remain silent and thought a fool than to sext up and remove all doubt.

Until recently, the overexposure of Favre had to do with excessive reporting on whether he would retire in each of the last several offseasons. The new meaning and the firestorm around it led Favre to give a tearful apology to the team for the distraction, reported ESPN’s Michele Tafoya, who takes the word “reporter” from her title “sideline reporter” seriously.

Favre isn’t the first man to be led astray by his brain to the extent he has had to make embarrassing apologies. History is loaded with powerful men letting their minds control them.

The combination of late politician Wibur Mills’ brain, alcohol and a foxy stripper named Fanne made for fascinating reading in the mid ’70s. A photo of Donna Rice sitting on Gary Hart’s lap on a boat killed Hart’s presidential aspirations. Televangelist Jim Bakker couldn’t keep his mind off Jessica Hahn, and that apparently so shocked the preacher’s wife, Tammy Faye Bakker, that her face froze in place, painted eyes wide-open, immobile big smile, no wrinkles.

At least Tiger Woods had the decency to have his multiple affairs behind the back of one of history’s most gorgeous faces without feeling compelled to text photos of the organ where his thoughts originate.

This article was horrible, both content and writing-wise!
- I realize that this is simply an online article, but some professionalism by the writer would be appreciated. That means no jokes.
- Yes, Jenn is important in this scandal, however, small details of her life are not. In this particular article, the "cowgirl" and "Maxim and Playboy" bits are not necessary.
- I feel a tinge of sarcasm when referring to Michele. once again, unprofessional.
- If you were going for satire in the last paragraph, it failed, miserably. How dare you say one stupid text is worse than multiple affairs?? We all do stupid things. By the way, are you gonna sit there and say you have never said or done something stupid in public? Please, get off your oh so high horse.
- agreeing with the first two commentors.... just say the word penis! Your "uninformed" readers might actually believe you mean a brain. (i doubt it, but still.)

This op-ed piece didn't reach me, either. I just don't think it works...then again, it reached tree53. One thing is for sure, my 12-year old isn't reading the sports page today.

jtmurph, this is on op-ed piece rather than an article. Keegan isn't reporting on the news, he's commenting on it. Satire, humor, etc. are legitimate when the author is writing an op-ed piece even though they wouldn't be in reporting hard news. Keegan is offering his perspective on Favre's scandal, so he gets to point out things that inform that perspective, such as: Sterger achieved notoriety as one of a group of Florida State fans who called themselves the Cowgirls, and that she has worked as a professional model, and that he thinks Woods handled his own scandal better than Favre is handling his.

Like or dislike the column, but Keegan's job includes writing columns. Perhaps more importantly, he's in a position where he's being paid to share his opinion with the rest of us. The rest of us are adding to LJWorld's content gratis.

I don't know why Farve is still hanging around putting up with this crap. He's a first ballot hall of famer. Go home to Mississippi, Brett and go duck hunting on the Bayou. Your work is done.
All-time great trivia question: who caught Farve's first NFL pass?